Razor and blade holder



Oct. 12, 1954 T. P. CLARK RAZOR AND BLADE HOLDER Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Thomas P. C/ar/r INVENTOR.

BY W WM Oct. 12, 1954 T. P. CLARK 2,691,217

RAZOR AND BLADE HOLDER v,

Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 4 Fig. 5

Thomas R Clark INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors and more particularly to the type of razor which may be easily grasped between the thumb and forefinger of the user and which includes spaced substantially parallel cutting surfaces whereby the razor can be moved back and forth over the skin of the user without requiring any radical change in the position of the razor.

Many various types of safety razors have been employed heretofore but each of these devices are somewhat unsatisfactory due to the fact that the beards of men to be shaved vary in texture to the degree that an optimum pitch and spacing between cutting edges cannot be obtained which is the same for all beards. Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a safety razor having spaced parallel blade holders which are adapted to be moved relative to each other to space the blades carried thereby and which are adapted to be rotated to a desired pitch whereby the user can adjust his razor to the optimum position as may be experimentally and empirically determined. This optimum position will of course vary depending upon the growth of the beard, the hardness of the water utilized in the softening of the beard, the composition of the shaving cream, soap or lotion utilized, and for other lesser reasons. Therefore, the device is very easily adjustable and has a wide range of adjustability.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of novel blade envelopes which are adapted to support elongated strips having sharpened edges therein, the blade envelopes being resiliently held on the blade holders by suitable spring pressed retaining members.

The construction of this invention features a support device which has a pair of cradles pivotally attached thereto. A pair of blade holders are pivotally attached to the cradles so that upon movement of the cradles in any angular direction the blades will be pulled toward or away from each other. Further, the blade holders may be pivoted relative to the cradles thereby enabling the pitch of these blades to be adjustably set.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a safety razor and is comparatively simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being produced out of various readily available materials, which is light weight and which requires a minimum of storage space, thereby enabling the device to be readily utilized by travellers, servicemen, and the like a d hich safety razor is highly emcient in use.

so, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are obtained by this safety razor, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the safety razor comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of this device;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 4-4 in Figure 2 showing the safety razor on the blade holders with the blades carried thereby adjacent each other;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 but showing the blades in a separated position;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 66 in Figure 2 and illustrating the device with the blade holders positioned in one angular relationship;

Figure 7 is another vertical sectional view similar to that of Figure 6 but showing the device after the angular relationship of the blade holders has been adjusted;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the blade assembly;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the blade assembly but showing the envelope in an opened position; and

Figure 10 is a sectional detail view illustrating the manner in which the blade assembly is positioned on the blade holder.

With continuing reference to the accompany 'ing drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral iii generally designates the novel safety razor comprising the present invention. This safety razor includes a support structure It having a base it and upwardly extending spaced side walls it and I3. Secured to the side walls It and I8 areside plates 20 and It formed from a suitable material and providing means for a comfortable grasping surface for the thumb and forefinger of the user. Pivotally attached to the side walls l6 and iii are a pair of cradles 22 and 24. The cradle 22 is provided with spaced cars 25 and 28 and the cradle 24 has ears 3%! and 32 fixed thereto.

Pivotally attached to the cradles 22 and 2 2 are a pair of blade holders 35 and 35 the blade holder 3-; having ears 38 and 38 depending therefrom while the blade holder 35 is provided with ears 3? and 54. As is shown best in Figure 10 3 each of the blade holders is provided with an aperture 46 therethrough for reception of a U- shaped projection 48 affixed to a blade retaining member 5%. An upwardly extending prong 52 is integrally formed with the U-shaped member as and cooperates with a prong 5 to retain a spring 56 therebetween. The blade retaining member 58 has a groove 58 therein in which a blade assembly 53 is adapted to seat. Ihe lade assembly consists of a blade envelope 52 formed from upper and lower sections 64 and 56 which retain an elongated strip 68 therebetween having a sharpened edge it. The sharpened edge it! extends throughout the confines of the envelope 3:2. It is to be noted that the ends of the blade are provided with recesses as at i2 and i l for engagement with guide elements it mounted on the blade holders and adapted to retain the blades in their desired and proper position. In the installation of a blade assembly in position it a is merely necessary to pull back upon the blade retaining member 5%? thus compressing the spring 5%. This will enable the blade assembly 63 to be seated with the blade guides l6 seated in the recesses l2 and M. Then the blade retaining member be may be released so as to grasp the edge of the blade assembly to within the recess Upwardly extending from the base 12 are a pair of rods 18 and 80 which form vertical guides for a guide block 82 having a horizontally extending slot 84 therein, the slot 84 receiving lugs 86 and 88 mounted on the ears 2% and 30 of the cradles 22 and 24. Threadedly engaged in the block 82 is a threaded shaft 96 which is journalled in the base I2 and actuated by a knurled operating head or handle 92. Hence, upon rotation of the handle 92 the shaft 99 will be rotated so as to selectively raise and lower the guide block 82 thereby pivoting the cradles 22 and 24 to move the blade holders 34 and 36 towards or away from each other. This will in turn position the blade assemblies 60 at a desired distance relative to each other so that the cutting edges 10 may provide an optimum cutting action. There isalso provided means for adjusting the pitch of the blade holders and hence of the blade assemblies. This structure includes a pair of vertically rising guides 94 and 96 which extend upwardly through suitable apertures formed in a guide member or block 98. The guide member or block 98 is provided with a horizontal slot or groove 10% therein for reception of fingers I82 and [04 mounted on the ears M and All which are attached to the blade holders 34 and 36.

Threadedly secured in the block 98 is a threaded i shaft or member ms which is journalled in the base 12 and actuated by an operating handle Hi8. Hence, upon rotation of the operating handle I08 the shaft [05 is rotated thus raising and lowering the block 98 as may be desired. This will tilt the blade holders 3 and 36 relative to each other so as to angularly position the blade assemblies 60 relative to each other to obtain an optimum cutting position.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of this safety razor are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be readily 4 resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A safety razor comprising a pair of blade holders arranged for holding a pair of blades with the edges of the blades in parallel relationship, means for selectively adjustably moving said blade holders towards and away from each other, and means for adjusting the angular relationship of the blade holders relative to each other.

2. A safety razor comprising a pair of blade holders arranged for holding a pair of blades with the edges of the blades in parallel relationship, means for selectively adjustably moving said blade holders towards and away from each other, and means for adjusting the angular relationship of the blade holders relative to each other, said razor further including a support structure having a base and spaced side walls, a pair of cradles pivotally attached to said side walls, said blade holders being pivotally attached to said cradles.

3. A safety razor comprising a support structure including a base and spaced side walls, a pair of cradles pivotally attached to said side walls, and a pair of blade holders pivotally attached to said cradles, and means for selectively adjustably moving said blade holders towards and away from each other including a threaded shaft journalled in said base, a guide block having a slot therein adjustably threadedly carried by said shaft, an operating head on said shaft, and lugs on said cradles engaged in said slot whereby upon rotation of said operating head said shaft is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide block thus pivoting said cradles to move said blade holders selectively away and towards each other.

4. A safety razor comprising a support struc ture including a base and spaced side walls, a pair of cradles pivotally attached to said side walls, and a pair of blade holders pivotally attached to said cradles, and means for selectively adjustably controlling the angular relationship of said blade holders to each other including a threaded member journalled in said base, a guide member having a groove therein adjustably threadedly carried by said threaded member, an operating handle on said threaded member, and fingers on said blade holders engaged in said groove whereby upon rotation of said operating handle said threaded member is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide member thus pivoting said blade holders relative to said cradles.

5. A safety razor comprising a support structure including a base and spaced side walls, a pair of cradles pivotally attached to said side walls, and a pair of blade holders pivotally attached to said cradles, and means for selectively adjustably moving said. blade holders towards and away from each other including a threaded shaft journalled in said base, a guide block having a slot therein adjustably threadedly carried by said shaft, an operating head on said shaft, and lugs on said cradles engaged in said slot whereby upon rotation of said operating head said shaft is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide block thus pivoting said cradles to move said blade holders selectively away and towards each other, and means for selectively adjustably controlling the angular relationship of said blade holders to each other including a threaded member journalled in said base, a guide member having a groove therein adjustably threadedly carried by said threaded member, an operating handle on said threaded member, and fingers on said blade holders engaged in said groove whereby upon rotation of said operating handle said threaded member is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide member thus pivoting said blade holders relative to said cradles.

6. A safety razor comprising a pair of blade holders arranged for holding a pair of blades with the edges of the blades in parallel relationship, means for selectively adjustably, moving said blade holders towards and away from each other, and means for adjusting the angular relationship of the blade holders relative to each other, and spring pressed blade retaining members pivotally attached to said blade holders and blades retained on said blade holders by said blade retaining means.

'7. A safety razor comprising a support structure including a base and spaced side walls, a pair of cradles pivotally attached to said side walls, and a pair of blade holders pivotally attached to said cradles, and means for selectively adjustably moving said blade holders towards and away from each other including a threaded shaft journalled in said base, a guide block having a slot therein adjustably threadedly carried by said shaft, an operating head on said shaft, and lugs on said cradles engaged in said slot whereby upon rotation of said operating head said shaft is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide block thus pivoting said cradles to move said blade holders selectively away and towards each other, and means for selectively adjustably controlling the angular relationship of said blade holders to each other including a threaded member journalled in said base, a guide member having a groove therein adjustably threadedly carried by said threaded member, an operating handle on said threaded member, and fingers on said blade holders engaged in said groove whereby upon rotation of said operating handle said threaded member is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide member thus pivoting said blade holders relative to said cradles, and spring pressed blade retaining members pivotally attached to said blade holders and blades retained on said blade holders by said blade retaining members.

8. A safety razor comprising a pair of blade holders arranged for holding a pair of blades with the edges of the blades in parallel relationship, means for selectively adjustably moving said blade holders towards and away from each other, and means for adjusting the angular relationship of the blade holders relative to each other, and spring pressed blade retaining members pivotally attached to said blade holders and blades retained on said blade holders by said blade retaining means, each of said blades comprising a blade envelope, and an elongated strip having a sharpened edge received in said envelope with said sharpened edge extending outside of said envelope.

9. A safety razor comprising a support structure including a base and spaced side walls, a pair of cradles pivotally attached to said side walls, and a pair of blade holders pivotally attached to said cradles, and means for selectively adjustably moving said blade holders towards and away from each other including a threaded shaft journalled in said base, a guide block having a slot therein adjustably threadedly carried by said shaft, an operating head on said shaft, and lugs on said cradles engaged in said slot whereby upon rotation of said operating head said shaft is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide block thus pivoting said cradles to move said blade holders selectively away and towards each other, and means for selectively adjustably controlling the angular relationship of said blade holders to each other including a threaded member journalled in said base, a guide member having a groove therein adjustably threadedly carried by said threaded member, an operating handle on said threaded member, and fingers on said blade holders engaged in said groove whereby upon rotation of said operating handle said threaded member is rotated selectively raising and lowering said guide member thus pivoting said blade holders relative to said cradles, and spring pressed blade retaining members pivotally attached to said blade holders and blades retained on said blade holders by said blade retaining members, each of said blades comprising a blade envelope, and an elongated strip having a sharpened edge received in said envelope with said sharpened edge extending outside of said envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,918,856 Merrick July 18, 1933 1,923,673 Jones Aug. 22, 1933 1,991,097 Johnston Feb. 12, 1935 2,361,921 Albert Nov. 7, 1944 

